Collapsible umbrella



Aug. 1, 1939. H. 'BERNHARD GOLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1936 Aug. 1', 1939. H. BERNHARD COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA Filed April 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /-vz-ron Han s .BGTKJDarEL BY Z% ;%7&QA

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 27,

1936, Serial No. 76,671

In Switzerland November 23, 1935 9 Claims.

A large number of constructions of umbrellas capable of being shortened are known with telescoping handle and rib elements. Constructions capable of being shortened at least three times,

that is to say actual pocket umbrellas, have not been satisfactory in practice as they contain various defects including the following: when shortening the umbrella the covering instead of being folded is only pressed into a ball, consequently it is entangled and easily liable to be torn. Further, previous pocket umbrellas are difficult to manipulate as the constructions thereof are such that the functions do not take place positively as a result of which the umbrellas also become heavy and bulky.

These disadvantages are eliminated by the present invention. It is characterised by an umbrella, capable of being shortened, with telescoping stick and rib elements, while on the latter there are provided supports serving to carry the covering as also for extending the rib elements and for holding these in the operative positions, the supports after collapsing the rib elements being capable of folding in the longitudinal direction of the umbrella. Additional stays which connect the supports to the middle rib element provide for a uniform and positive co-operation of all the ribs with one another.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated by way of example one form of construction.

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the rib structure of the extended umbrella restricted to a single rib.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shortened umbrella.

Fig.

brella. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the completely shortened umbrella, the handle 24 being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail-elevation and part section of a portion of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 5 are sections on the line 5-5 of .Fig. 4, showing respectively the two positions,

3 is a side elevation of the extended um- I one where the sections I and 2 of the stick are 5' discs 6 and '1 respectively, which vdiscs serve for locking the extended stick parts I, 2 and 3. The uppermost stick part carries the umbrella top 8. 9 indicates a knob which can be turned through a number of degrees and is always again turned into its initial position by a spring. The knob 9 is provided with a groove 9 for the reception of the cover material Ill and on the part thereof turned towards the umbrella top 8 is provided with notches I I, II" and so on according to the number of ribs. The member 4 which serves to hold the stick elements in the extended position is also secured to the knob 9- and is actuated thereby. I2, I3 and I4 indicate three telescoping members of the ribs. I5 and I6 indicate the cover carriers movably mounted on the rib elel6 ments I2, I3 and I4 and hinged together at H. Two connecting stays I8 and II), which are mounted on the head member H at the end of the middle rib element I3 nearest the umbrella top 8, together with the lateral rib stays 20, are also hingedly connected to the cover carriers I5 and I6 and serve to push the outer rib elements l5 positively outwards when the stick elements I, 2 and 3 are extended. This occurs by reason of the fact that the rib stays 2|] are at the same time 25 drawn out by means of the slide 23 to which they are hingedly connected and which is connected to the stick element 2 by a releasable catch. The extending of the stick elements I, 2 and 3 therefore also causes the rib elements I3 and I4 to be extended or pushed out, that is to say the umbrella is moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 into the position shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 2 being a. position during the closing.

A strap 2| is rotatably mounted at one end in the hinged head 22 while the other end slides on the cover carrying element I6. When the lower face of the knob 9 presses against the strap 2I this cannot move away from the hinge head 22 as a result of which the cover carriers l5 and I6 40 are prevented from collapsing but the rib elements I3 and I4 telescope freely when swung down. 24 indicates the umbrella handle, which is hollow and which is releasably held by a pawl 25 in an outer position and when the umbrella collapsed can be passed over this as shown in Fig. 4.

The sections I, 2 and 3 of the stick are telescopingly movable relatively to each other without being rotatable. This is accomplished by 50 providing the sections I to 3 of the stick with grooves which register. Within the interior of the section I there is a rod 4 of square crosssection united with the rotatable plate 9. Within the section 2 there is a tubeof square cross-section, as indicated at 5, the square rod 4 being slidable in said square tube 5. Two discs provided with a recess as indicated at 6 and I are positively connected with the square tubing 5. The disc 6 is secured to the top end of the tubular section 2 of the stick, and the disc I is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the tubular section 3. By means of plate 9, the discs 6 and I may, therefore, be rotated through the elements 4 and 5. A spring applied to the plate 9 serves for retaining the discs 6 and I continuously in the same position or to bring them back into this position. The arrangement is made such that the disc 6 engages a cut-out portion or recess of each of the sections I and 2, whereby these two sections are locked to each other. These cut-outs or recesses which are engaged by the disc 6 are.

located within the grooves of the sections I and 2 of the stick. The same locking arrangement also looks the stick sections 2 and 3 to the disc I. If it is desired to release the locking condition of the sections to 3, the plate 9 is turned.

This will cause the discs 6 and I also to turn so that the recesses of the same reach the height of the grooves of the sections I to 3, whereby the discs 6 and I are pulled out of the recesses or cut-outs in the sections I to 3. Stops are provided for holding the discs 6 and 'I in the proper positions.

The manipulation of the umbrella is as follows:

In order to move'the shortened umbrella into the position of use the handle 24 is withdrawn from the folded cover Ill and then locked by the spring pawl 25. The knob 9 is then turned to the stop and the umbrella is pulled at both ends. By turning the knob 9 the notches I I, H and so forth therein come into register with the straps 2|, that is to say the latter are exposed, so that the cover supporting element [6 can open out Without obstruction as during this movement straps 2| are free in the notches II, II and so forth. By further pulling out the stick elements I, 2 and 3 the rib stays 2B are also moved as these are connected to the slide 23, which is locked to the stick element 2. As the rib stays 20 are also drawn out there are also drawn out the rib elements I3 which are hingedly connected to the latter, the cover supports I and I6 are opened out by reason of the connection with the stays I6 and I9. As the cover supports I5 are hingedly connected to the rib elements I4 the latter are also drawn out. When the stick elements I, 2 and 3 have been extended fully the rib elements 'I2, I3 and I4 are also completely extended or pushed out so that the knob 9 can be released. When this has returned into its initial position the straps 2| are again covered so that the rib elements I3 and I4 can no longer collapse as the straps 2| are no longer capable of moving away from the hinge heads 22. During the return movement of the knob 9 the discs 6 and I also turn in the interior of the stick so that the stick elements I, 2 and 3, which are provided with grooves, are relatively locked by the engagements of the discs 6 and I with these grooves. By pushing up the slide 23, after this has been released by pressing on its catch by which it is locked to the stick element 2, the umbrella is opened out and locked in the known manner. The straps 2| slide under the knob 9 during the opening so that it is impossible for the rib ele- 'ments I3 and I I to collapse.

In order to again bring the umbrella into its shortened form, the cover is closed whereupon the slide 23 is again locked at the lower end of the stick element 2. The knob 9 is thereupon again turned so that the stick element catches 6 and I are released and the straps 2I exposed. The two ends of the umbrella are now pushed together whereupon by pressure upon the ends of the rib elements I4 all the movable parts pass through the same movements, but in the reverse direction as when extended. The cover supports I5 and I6 rise outwardly and then fold upon one another together with the stays I8 and I9, as

shown in Fig. 4, in such a manner that they also bear snugly against the collapsed rib elements I2, I3 and I4. The cover I6 is thus folded in such a manner that the outer portion of the cover comes to lie upon the remaining material thereof. Finally the catch 25 is released and the handle 24 is pushed over the cover Ill.

While the invention has been described more particularly in connection with an umbrella it will be understood that it is also applicable to sun-shades, parasols and the like.

I claim: 1. In a collapsible umbrella, or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, ribs each composed of telescoping sections, stays connected by floating elements to the ribs and connected with the stick, and means connected with the several rib sections for mechanically telescoping or extending the sections as the stick sections are telescoped or extended respectively, said means also serving as a cover support and to assist in holding the ribs in the position of use.

2. In a collapsible umbrella, or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, ribs each composed of telescoping sections, stays connected by floating elements to the ribs and connected with the stick, and means connected with the several rib sections for mechanically telescoping or extending the sections as the stick sections are telescoped or extended respectively, said means also serving as a cover support and to assist in holding the ribs in the position of use, and means carried by the stick for holding the sections thereof in their extended positions.

3. In a collapsible umbrella, or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, ribs each composed of telescoping sections, stays connected by floating elements to the ribs and connected with the stick, and means connected with the several rib sections for mechanically telescoping or extending the sections as the stick sections are telescoped or extended respectively, said means also serving as a cover support and to assist in holding the rib in the position of use, said means comprising an articulated arm for each rib, said arm being connected at its ends to the sections of the rib, and stays connecting the arm articulations with the mid-section of the rib with which the arm is associated.

4. In a collapsible umbrella or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, means, including a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the ing a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the sections of the stick in their extended positions, a top secured to the stick, ribs hingedly connected radially to the top, each rib composing telescoping sections and means mechanically actuating automatically to extend and telescope the rib sections accordingly as the stick sections are extended or telescoped, said means comprising for each rib, an articulated arm and a pair of stays, the ends of the arm being connected to the end section of the rib and the stays being connected together at one end to the mid-section of the rib while the other ends of the stays are connected to the end sections of the rib.

6. In a collapsible umbrella or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, means, including a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the sections of the stick in their extended positions, a top secured to the stick, ribs hingedly connected radially to the top, each rib composing telescoping sections and means mechanicallyactuating automatically to extend and telescope the rib sections accordingly as the stick sections are extended or telescoped, a chambered handle for the stick, into the chamber section of which, the telescoped rib sections may in part project when the stick and ribs have been telescoped.

'7. In a collapsible umbrella or the like, a stick composed oftelescoping sections, means including a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the sections of the stick in their extended positions, a top secured to the stick, ribs hingedly connected radially to the top, each ribcomposing telescoping sections and means mechanically actuating automatically to extend and telescope the rib sections accordingly as the stick sections are extended or telescoped, said means comprising for each rib, an articulated arm and a pair of stays, the ends of the arm being connected to the end section of the rib and the stays being' connected together at one end to the mid-section of the rib while the other ends of the stays are connected to the end sections of the rib, a chambered handle for the stick, into the chamber section of which, the telescoped rib sections may in part project when the stick and ribs have been telescoped.

8. In a collapsible umbrella or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, means, including a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the sections of the stick in their extended positions, a top secured to the stick, ribs hingedly connected radially to the top, each rib composing telescoping sections and means mechanically actuating automatically to extend and telescope the rib sections accordingly as the stick sections are extended or telescoped, and means carried in part by each rib and in part by said knob for holding the extended or opened up rib from collapsing automatically.

9. In a collapsible umbrella or the like, a stick composed of telescoping sections, means, including a rotatable knob, telescoping elements and holding discs carried by the stick for securing the sections of the stick in their extended positions, a top secured tothe stick, ribs hingedly connected radially to the top, each rib composing telescoping sections and means mechanically actuating automatically to extend and telescope the rib sections accordingly as the stick sections are extended or telescoped, said means comprising for each rib, an articulated arm and a pair of stays, the ends of the arm being connected to the end section of the rib: and the stays being connected together at one end to the mid-section of the rib While the other ends of the stays are connected to the end sections of the ribs, and means carried in part by each rib and in part by said knob for holding the extended or opened up rib from collapsing automatically.

HANS BERNHARD. 

